The Sprout: Agriculture industry says new federal support doesn’t cut it

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference to give an update from self isolation at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa to give an update on the government's response to COVID-19 outbreaks on Mar. 17, 2020. Andrew Meade/iPolitics

Good day and welcome to the Sprout. Here’s Wednesday’s agriculture news.

The Lead

The leaders of farm groups are disappointed by the government’s promised support for the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday that the federal government would provide $252 million in aid funding for the shaken agriculture sector, Jeff Nielsen of the Grain Growers of Canada said the pledge does nothing for grain farmers, who are still suffering from fiscal challenges that predated the current crisis.

Markus Haerle of Grain Farmers of Ontario took a softer tone, saying that the funding is an appreciated first step – as the prime minister indicated it would be – but that the next phase will be required soon.

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Canadian Pork Council, whose farmers were specifically singled out by Trudeau as in need of help, both expressed that they felt the support came up short.

The funding that was announced represents about one-tenth of what the Canadian Federation of Agriculture had asked for to support the industry.

Two House committees, including the special COVID-19 committee, meet today to discuss the government’s response to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not give the usual daily press briefing as he will instead be in Trenton, Ont., for a repatriation ceremony for six soldiers killed in a helicopter crash near Greece last week.

In Canada

Alberta Health has connected 34 cases of COVID-19 to the Harmony Beef plant near Calgary, making it the third meat-processing facility in the province to see a spike of confirmed coronavirus cases. A union representing inspectors of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which temporarily suspended work at the site over safety concerns following the first diagnosis more than a month ago, wants Harmony Beef to close the plant entirely until the full spread of COVID-19 associated with the site is eradicated. CBC News has the details.

Internationally

As Italy weighs whether to legalize migrant farm workers during what will undoubtably be a challenging farming season, Pope Francis has pled that they must be treated with dignity.

“It is true that the current crisis affects everyone, but people’s dignity must always be respected. That is why I add my voice to the appeal of these workers and of all exploited workers,” Francis said at his weekly audience, which the Associated Press reported. “May the crisis give us the opportunity to make the dignity of the person and of work the centre of our concern.”

Reuters got ahold of a draft of a report prepared by officials in the Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry warning that they expect a rise in global agricultural protectionism as countries seek to sure up their local food supplies.

So-called “murder hornets” have been abuzz online since entering the social media spotlight over the weekend. On Tuesday a new wrinkle was brought to light, with the New York Times reporting that the terrifying insects are often served as hors d’oeuvre in parts of Japan, where they’re native to.